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Safety First

With the heat becoming more and more unbearable, the only pleasant time to walk Otis is after dark. We love strolling through the neighborhood under the stars, stopping to chat with other late night dog walkers who share in the same moonlit enjoyment that we do.

The one thing I never go on after-dusk walks without is my foster dog’s reflective vest. Yep, that’s right: I’m talking a bona fide crossing guard style, safety cone orange vest. While my jackets usually have something reflective on them, Otis (or Zee or Baxter… especially Baxter) can be very tough to spot at night. In the event that a driver isn’t paying attention, a hard-to-spot dog could mean big trouble. So I’m always sure to outfit him in his safety vest that, as you can see, certainly does the trick.

This particular vest velcros under the stomach and in front of the chest. It’s made of a very light mesh material, so it’s perfect for summer nights or layering over winter jackets. I like this style because it’s so simple to get on and off. I think this particular version is pretty old (my parents got it for my dog Barley growing up) because I can’t seem to find it anymore, but there are certainly plenty of alternatives online. It gives me so much peace of mind knowing that Otie is more visible and that much safer!

For more information on adopting Honey Bunches of Otis, go to his Adopt Me page to learn more about him and how to get in touch.

That’s a great tip! We’ve been walking Badger and Mushroom right around sunset because it’s too hot for them (and us) in the middle of the day. In the winter, though, it gets dark really early here, so we should pick up some safety vests too, seeing as Badger is black and Mushroom is dark brown.

This is a great piece of gear to invest in! I especially love this for rural areas w/less foot traffic. We have to walk Rufus along a busy road to get anywhere exciting (parks, fields, etc), so this would definitely come in handy.